*Intro

“… the opening bars of a song, intended as an appetiser for what follows, establishing a melody and rhythm to pique the listener’s interest, to draw them in to the music …”

“I don’t mean to sound callous,” she said, “but shouldn’t you have more important things on your mind right now?”

“I’ve always had a weird sense of priorities,” he replied. “It’s part of my charm,” the payoff line delivered with that self-satisfied smirk she’d come to know (and love), though rarely witnessed these days.

“But a bloody quiz for Chrissake!” she blurted out, immediately regretting that the comment may have betrayed the irritation she felt, however selfish. “Is that to be your final legacy?”

“Think my legacy’s already set in stone darling,” he responded, with familiar grandeur (possibly feigned, probably not), “but this is crucial, we can’t have some dickhead winning my prize.”

“I know that’s important. To you anyway,” she conceded, “but I don’t understand how you stop it by being so long winded and convoluted?”

“Not the first time I’ve been called that,” he laughed, through obvious pain. “Is it too late to change my epitaph? Like Teddy Roosevelt said though, nothing worth having should ever come easy.”

“Couldn’t it just be complicated and short though?” she asked, hoping to keep the exasperation from her voice. “You’ve been working on it for weeks now.”

“I’m almost done, in more ways than one! But it’s been worth it. Those Daedalian clues and red herrings I’ve scattered along the way mean our eventual winner will have had to outsmart me, a rare beast indeed.”

His indomitable pomposity made her smile. Intrigued, despite herself, she had two more questions, “I know why it’s called ‘Challenge 69’, but aren’t you worried it’ll sound like some sex thing when it appears online?”

“Oh, hadn’t thought of that,” he nakedly lied. “You really think so? Can’t be causing any controversy now, can we?”

Well used to ignoring his sarcasm, she posed her final enquiry, suspecting she’d regret hearing the answer, “I know the timetable’s set out in your will, but why the big delay before it launches?”

“The world’s not ready yet,” he declared. “It’ll be better to wait a few years. By the time ‘Challenge 69’ is revealed I’ll be long gone, and, unfortunately my dear, long forgotten.”

Self-deprecation didn’t become him. While he might be right on the first point, he surely couldn’t be more wrong on the second. She hurried to leave the room before he could spot the tears start to escape, again.

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(Track 1 will follow shortly on a separate post.)